Chuck



July 19, 1949. J. N. PETAQE Em 2,476,162

CHUCK AFiled Feb. 9, 1946' v v Y .smv Q"" Patented July 19, 1949 CHUCK John N. Petro, Orchard Park, N. Y., and John 0. l Olsen, Lakewood, Ohio, assignors to Park Metalware Company, Inc., Orchard Park, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 9, 1946, Serial No. 646,654

This invention relates to tools of the type wherein the tool shank projects from and is coaxial with the handle and is removably mounted Within a socket formed in the handle, thereby to enable tool elements of different types, e. g. screw drivers of different forms, socket wrenches and the like to be interchangeably used with the same handle and also enabling the use of double shank tool elements, for example, screw drivers having engaging portions of different types, each located at the end of one of the Shanks.

In tools of this type as heretofore used the shank has been provided at its inner end or, in the case of a double shank tool, midway between the ends, with a diametrically enlarged portion, usually of hexagonal cross section, which is provided with a spring pressed ball latch for cooperation with a recess in the handle. Such tools have been found to be objectionable from a number of standpoints. TheV manufacturing operation is expensive in that it involves the necessity of drilling a recess for the spring and ball latch followed by an upsetting operation to deform the edge of the recess whereby to prevent the displacement of the latch. In use, moisture seeps into the recess for the ball latch, causing rusting of the spring. Fine particles of dust or dirt also work into such recess and impair the action of the ball latch. Repair is quite difcult and in general it has been found to be more economical under such conditions to discard the tool and replace it with a new one. Another objection is a certain amount of radial loose play between the handle and the shank which impairs the emciency of the tool, creating difficulties in its use.

The object of the invention is( to provide a tool of the type described which overcomes the foregoing objections, that is to say, a tool in which the manufacturing operation is greatly simplified and performed with much greater economy, repair required by the failure of operah tion of the latch element (the only part imposing the necessity for repair) may be quickly, easily and inexpensively made, and radial loose play is substantially eliminated, thereby providing for increased efficiency in use and also enabling the use of longer tool shanks than has heretofore been practically possible.

For the attainment of the above object the invention, generally speaking, is characterized by the provision of the latching element in association with the handle in contradistinction to its association with the tool shank, by a latching element which has such engagement with 8 Claims. (Cl. 279-96) vcentral axial recess the tool shank and associated parts as substantially to eliminate radial displacement of the tool shank and which is of such construction and arrangement that it will have a much longer efficient life, and by a'combination, construction and arrangement of parts Vsuch that repair necessitated by the impairment of the operation of the latching element, resultant from prolonged use, may be quickly, easily and economically effected.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is an elevation, partly insection, of a tool in which two tool elements are provided,

these being formed respectively at the ends of a double shank.

Figure 2 is a similar view, partly in section along the line 2 2 of Figure 1. In this gure the double shank is shown in a position which is the reverse of that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section along the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal section along the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section along the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view in longitudinal section of the sleeve which forms an element of the connections between the handle and the tool shank,

The tool handle lI is preferably made of any suitable plastic material, for example, a phenolic condensation compound, and is formed with a 2 extending from the inner end of the handle to a plane close to its outer end.

A sleeve 3 is fitted within the recess 2 and, in assembly, is inserted into the recess 2 with a press fl't. The recess 2 is formed With an annular shoulder 4, the purpose `of which is to limit the insertion movement of the sleeve 3 and to determine its position inthe recess. The sleeve 3 is formed at diametrically opposite points and projecting from its outer peripheral surface with keys 5, ythese being preferably struck up from the metal of the cylindrical wall of the sleeve. Two keys 5 are preferable although, obviously, a single key may be employed. When the handle I is made of plastic material it is unnecessary lto preform-keyways for the keys 5 since, when the sleeve 3 is forced into the recess 2, the keys 5 will cut their own keyways.

When the handle I is made of material other than plastic material keyways to accommodate' the keys 5 may be readily formed in the recess 2, by obvious processes. The keys 5 prevent lateral, i. c. rotative, displacement of the sleeve 3 in the recess 2.

The tool is completed by a shank 6 having a tool element 'I at its outer end. The shank may be either single or double, the latter form being shown. The double shank includes aligning, shank elements and' diverse tool elements 1, respectively provided at the outer end of each shank element.

The shank 6 is keyed to the sleeve 3 against rotative displacement and is latched to the sleeve 3 against accidental axial. displacement.

The sleeve 3 is provided with longitudinal key* ways 8 at diametrically opposite points. While two keyways 8 are preferable a single keyway may be employed. The keyways, 8 have deeper portions 8c adjacent their front ends. The keys 5 coincide diametrically with the keyways; 8 and, as struck up from themetal of the cylindrical wallV of the sleeve, provided. in said. keyways the front portions 3a. of greater depths. Each. keyway communicates at its inner end with an opening 9 extending betweenathe peripheral and circumferential surfaces of. sleeve 3.

The shank (i is formed with swaged keys I0, the edges of which are preferably arcuate in the longitudinal direction. The keys I8 project into the keyway portions 8a,. thereby to prevent rotative displacement of the shanks relatively to the sleeve 3, In the case oi a single shank the keys I are located near its inner end, the latter substantially coinciding with the inner end of the sleeve3 as show-ngby the broken line Xin Figure 4. In the case'of a double shank, as shown, the keys I0 have an intermediate location, that is to say, they are located between the shank elements. If. but asingle keyway 8 be provided the shank 6 Will obviously have a single swaged key I0 instead of two oppositely located keys. as shown.

The shank IiV is held in operatively connected relation to the handle by a latch II of spring metal of flat cross section. The latch II- has a bow-shaped front portion I^2 which projects into the portion 8al ot one of the keyways andv has a recurvate front end portion` I3. The bow-shaped portion I2 projects from an intermediate straight portion I4 which: is located in the shallower part of the keyway 8. The intermediate portion. I4 carries at its inner end a portion I5 which extends longitudinally inwardl and' at a radiallyoutward angle of. inclination, the portion I5 passing throughv the opening- 9 and at its inner end carrying a straight portionF I6: overlying andA contacting the peripheral. surface of the sleeve 3V inwardly of the opening 9 and terminating in a finger Ill extending radially inward andwhich engages against the flat inner face of the sleeve 3. The latch Il is. tted tothe sleeve 3 in the manner shown and described and. the sleeve and latch, as a unit, are iitted in the recess 2. When the sleeve 3 is inserted into the recess 2 the portion I6 of the latch H will cut its own keyway in the wall of the recess 2, assuming that thehandle I is made of plastic material, andthe iinger I1 will press into the material ofthe shoulder 4; When the handle I is made of material other than plastic material a keyway to accommodate the portion I6 and a groove to accommodate the finger I'I may be readily formed in. theA recess 2 and shoulder 4 by obvious processes. Since the sleeve 3 is carried by the handle, the spring latch II, as carried by the sleeve in thev embodiment disclosed, is functionally carried by the handle, that is to say the latchV II. ashaving. its bowed portion I2 iitted in the keyway 8, performs its functions just as though its inner end were directly attached to the handle.

The bow-shaped portion I2, as compared with the key I0 with which it cooperates, is of slightly greater arcuate extent and has its curvature about a slightly shorter radius. The portion I2 at its inner end adjoins the inner end oi the shoulder 8b between the deeper and shallower portions of the keyway 8. The internal diameter of the sleeve 3 conforms, within practical limits of tolerance, to the diameter of the shank E.

In. manufacture. the sleeve 3 with its associated spring latch II` is fitted in the recess 2 of the handle I as above described. In assembling the tool the shank' 6 is inserted in the axial direction into and through the sleeve 3 as thus tted in the handle until the key I0 abuts the inner end oi the bow-shaped portion I2 of the latch I I, such abutting contact limiting the insertion movement of the shank 8. In inserting'the shank. B-.through the sleeve 3 the arcuate edge of the, key ID has cam-like engagement with the. recurvate front end portion I-3. of the latch Il and lifts and. rides under said recurvate end portion, the latter for this purpose being located beyond the wall of the keyway portion 8a which is engaged by the bowshaped portion I2. When the inner end of the key II! engages the inner end of the bow-shaped portion I2 the recurvate portion I3. of the latch II will have sprung back to bear with retaining pressure upon the shank 6 at a pointadjacentthe front end of the key I8.. The only force required for the insertion of theshank into the handle is that which is suflicient to effect the movement of the key I I) under and beyondthe recurvate portion I3. The disengagement of the shank from the handle is eiiected by pulling it in the-opposite direction, the key I0-in like manner engagingand passing under. and beyond' the recurvate portion It will be noted that when the shank 6 is tted within the handle in the manner. described'the latch IIl has a three-point bearing engagement with the associated parts, viz. at the-upper edge of the opening $3` as at A, midway of the keyway portion 8a as at B and upon the shank 6 adjacent the front end of the key I0 as at C. The shankr 6 maintains the engagement ofthe latch I'I at the points B and C and the engagement thus maintained at the point Bis of such degree of pressure as to provide for a correspondingly strong reactance pressure of the latch upon the shank at. the point C, the pressure at the point C being sufficiently strong to provide ample safeguard'against the accidental displacement or the shank from the sleeve 3 and to insure the iirm contact' of the opposite side oi the shankwith the sleeve 3,v i. e. the contact of the opposite key IIB in the embodiment disclosed with the opposing surface of the corresponding keyway portion 8. By virtue thereof and of the fact that the shank has a reasonably close fit within the sleeve 3 loose radial play between the shank and the sleeve is negligible and the tool. may be used with substantialy the same practicalA eiii'ciency as though: the shank were rigidly connected to the handle.

When the recurvate portion I3 is displaced and springs back into' position consequent' to the movement past it of the key l0 upon the insertion and removal of the shank Sinto: and from the recess 2, the latch will eX between the points A and B, the radius of flexion havingv its center at the point A. This point isrnear the inner end of theY latchv I I and. is remote' from the point B: iin

a degree such that the flexion of the latch will be about a relatively long radius with the result that the latch may have along period of efficient use Without liability of crystallizing at or adjacent the point A.

Whenever for any reason, as for example rust of crystallization, the operation of the latch becomes impaired repair may be readily and quickly made. All that is required is to insert a suitable pulling tool into the sleeve 3, engaging the end of the tool with the inner end of the sleeve or in one of the holes 9, and by means of such tool pulling the sleeve from the handle. 'I'he sleeve may thereupon be cleaned, if necessary, and a new latch Il fitted to the sleeve in the manner and position described whereupon the sleeve, carrying the new latch with it, is inserted into the recess 2 until its movement is limited by the shoulder 4. Since the latch is carried by the handle no repair involving the shank of the tool is required and therefore there is never any occasion for discardingr the shank.

We claim:

1. A tool comprising a handle having a recess extending axially from one end thereof, a, sleeve fitted in the recess, a tool shank removably fitted in said sleeve and having a tool element at its outer end, the sleeve having a longitudinal keyway open to its front end and the shank having a key which projects into said keyway and is formed with a convexly arcuate edge face and a latch of spring metal carried by the sleeve and located within the keyway, the latch having a front end portion which cooperates with the key to exert latching pressure upon the shank and cooperates with said arcuate edge face as a cam whereby it is yieldable radially of the keyway to permit the movement of the key into and from the keyway when the shank is inserted into or removed from the recess.

2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the latch has at its front end a bow-shaped portion which overlies the key, bears at a point intermediate its length upon the opposing wall of the keyway and terminates in a portion that bears with latching pressure upon the shank at a point adjacent the front end of the key.

3. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the latch has at its front end a bow-shaped portion which overlies the key, bears at a point intermediate its length upon the opposing wall of the keyway and terminates in a recurvate portion that bears with latching pressure upon the shank at a point adjacent the front end of the key.

4. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sleeve is removably tted in the recess.

5. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sleeve is removably tted in the recess and is provided between its peripheral and circumferential faces with an opening, and the latch has a portion extending through said opening and overlying the peripheral face of the sleeve.

6. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the latch has at its front end a bow-shaped portion which overlies the key, bears at a point intermediate its length upon the opposing wall of the keyway an-d terminates in a portion that bears with latching pressure upon the shank at a point adjacent the front end of the key, the sleeve is removably fitted in the recess, the keyway has at its front end a portion of greater depth and inwardly of said portion another portion of shallower depth, the sleeve is provided at the inner end of the keyway with an opening between its peripheral and circumferential faces, the bowshaped portion of the latch is located in the keyway portion of greater depth and the latch includes a straight portion at the inner end of the bow-shaped portion which is located in the sha1- lower portion of the keyway, an inclined portion which extends through said opening and a second straight portion which extends from the inclined portion and overlies the peripheral surface of the sleeve.

7. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the latch has at its front end a bow-shaped portion which overlies the key, bears at a point intermediate its length upon the opposing walls of the keyway and terminates in a recurvate portion that bears with latching pressure upon the shank at a point adjacent the front end of the key, the sleeve is removably fitted in the recess, the keyway has at its front end a portion of greater depth and inwardly of said portion another portion of shallower depth, the sleeve is provided at the inner end of the keyway with an opening between its peripheral and circumferential faces, the bow-shaped portion of the latch is located in the keyway portion of greater depth and the latch includes a straight portion at the inner end of the bow-shaped portion which is located in the shallower portion of the keyway, an inclined portion which extends through said opening and a second straight portion which extends from the inclined portion and overlies the peripheral surface of the sleeve.

8. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sleeve has a second longitudinal keyway open to its front end, of the same form as the keyway described, and which is located diametrically opposite to the keyway described, and the shank is provided with a second similar key which similarly projects into the second keyway and under the pressure of the latch the base of the second keyway.

JOHN N. PETRE. JOHN O. OLSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 271,549 True Jan. 30, 1883 1,448,895 Yotta Mar. 20, 1923 1,863,466 Carlson June 14, 1932 2,158,728 Peters May 16, 1939 2,378,775 Johnson June 19, 1945 of spring metal bears upon 

